T.O. Hydro Pulls Out Every Worker To Fix Stray Voltage After Five Children Shocked On Streets

It was frightening enough when it involved some dogs in the city.

Now it’s affected at least one child, and possibly as many as five, sparking a massive repair job by Toronto Hydro.

It’s another case of stray voltage, the same kind of electric shock that resulted in the death of two dogs over the past three months and left several other canines suffering burns to their paws.

CityNews has learned the children were on their way back from a school field trip when they may have suffered exposure or shocks from a handwell at Dundas and Sumach (top left.)

Hydro will only confirm that three youngsters were involved and say only one was actually shocked, but those numbers are still in question.

The incident apparently took place at around 3pm Thursday, but was kept under wraps until CityNews began asking questions, prompting a hastily called Friday press conference.

Concerned parents received letters from the school principal describing how the children, aged 10 and 11, were jolted.

None were seriously hurt but the utility is taking it seriously enough that they’ve pulled every available employee off their regular jobs and put them on the streets fixing the source of the shocking problem.

They’ll be examining every handwell in the city, the place where the stray voltage appears to be coming from. 

“This operation will involve more than 600 employees and is a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week operation,” assures Toronto Hydro President David O’Brien. “We are committed to fixing this problem and all of our resources will be dedicated to this project in the interests of public safety.

“Mobile voltage detection sweeps of all neighbourhoods will continue, as we have been doing for the last few months. The inspections and remediation will radiate from the downtown core out to all neighbourhoods. This will ensure that the oldest equipment is inspected and repaired first.”

But there are at least 15,000 of the openings in the city and the work may not be finished until the end of February. What should worried parents do until then? O’Brien’s answer is brief and may not entirely assure them. “If you see them,” he warns, “don’t step on them.

“How safe are the streets? The streets are very safe,” he contends.  “This is an issue that we are addressing quickly, aggressively, and we’re going to get it fixed.”

What exactly is a handwell?

“It looks like a manhole cover except it’s smaller,” he relates. “You’ll find two bolts, one on either side of it … In there are all the connections that feed street lights, lampposts, TTC advertising, BIA lamps, any other connections that are required to electrify the nearby services.”

O’Brien blames the weather and the age of the equipment for the problem. The repairs will cost hydro $15 million.

Here’s where to find more about stray voltage and how to report your concerns.